Cigarette making machines

ABSTRACT

In a cigarette making machine, a cigarette filler stream is formed and is carried by a suction conveyor to a transfer point at which the filler stream is received by a second suction conveyor which carries the stream on to a wrapper web. Within the second conveyor immediately upstream of the transfer point there is a space in which the pressure is greater than the pressure outside the second conveyor, so that air flows outwards from that space and then transversely through the filler stream toward the first conveyor. There is a similar space within the first conveyor immediately downstream of the transfer point so that air flows outwards from that space and then transversely through the filler stream toward the second conveyor.

tJnited States Patent [191 Labbe [451 Mar. 18, 1975 I 1 CIGARETTE MAKING MACHINES [75] Inventor: Francis Auguste Maurice Labbe,

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data July 28, 1971 United Kingdom 35512/71 [52] U.S. C1. ..131/84 B, 131/84 C, 131/110 [51] Int. C1. A24c 5/18 [58] Field of Search 131/23, 84 R, 84 B, 84 C, 131/146, 110

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,869,395 8/1932 Stelzer 131/110 3,030,965 4/1962 'Labbe 131/146 X 3,039,473 6/1962 Schubert 131/110 X 3,039,474 6/1962 Korber 131/84 B 3,074,413 1/1963 McArthur 131/110 X 3,255,764 6/1966 Gamberini 131/110 3,297,040 1/1967 Gamberini 131/84 C 3,495,599 2/1970 Molins 131/84 B FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 986,640 3/1965 United Kingdom 131/84 C Primary ExaminerJ0seph S. Reich Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Craig & Antonelli [57] ABSTRACT In a cigarette making machine, a cigarette filler stream is formed and is carried by a suction conveyor to a transfer point at which the filler stream is received by a second suction conveyor which carries the stream on to a wrapper web. Within the second conveyor immediately upstream of the transfer point there is a space in which the pressure is greater than the pressure outside the second conveyor, so that air flows outwards from that space .and then transversely through the filler stream toward the first conveyor. There is a similar space within the first conveyor immediately downstream of the transfer point so that air flows outwards from that space and then transversely through the filler stream toward the second conveyor.

8 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATEHIEU MARI 8 I975 SHEET 2 as 3 1 CIGARETTE MAKING MACHINES This invention is concerned with cigarette making machines in which a cigarette filler stream is transferred from one conveyor to another. The cigarette filler stream is subsequently enclosed in a continuous wrapper web (possibly after being trimmed) to form a continuous cigarette rod which is then cut into predetermined lengths.

In this specification the term cigarette will be used with the intention that it should be regarded as including other similar articles for smoking. The term tobacco will be used with the intention that it should be regarded as including any material or mixture of materials which may be used to form the filler of a cigarette or other similar article for smoking.

In a cigarette making machine according to this invention, the cigarette filler stream is transferred from one conveyor to another, at least one of the conveyors being arranged to carry the filler stream by means of suction, and the second conveyor being air pervious and being arranged to allow air to pass outwards through it in the region where it lies close to but inclined to, the first conveyor, so as to allow air to enter the filler stream in a direction transverse to the suction conveyor.

In a preferred machine, which is the subject of U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 46,596 filed June 16, 1970, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,750,678, issued Aug. 7, 1973, the filler stream is formed by showering tobacco through a shower channel, by means of air, on to an air-pervious band on which the filler stream is held by suction, and the filler stream (preferably after trimming) is received from the band by a transfer wheel which carries the stream by means of suction on to a continuous wrapper web. In this case there is preferably a cover which extends along the band and along at least part of the transfer wheel and defines a suction space which communicates with the end of the shower channel adjacent to the band. Just ahead of the transfer point (i.e., from hand to wheel) an air stream is drawn through the band from the suction space, and just after the transfer point an air stream is drawn through the wheel from the suction space. Similar air streams. pass into the suction space from chambers within the wheel and band which are substantially at atmospheric pressure, so that air flows transversely through the filler immediately before and after the transfer point.

As an alternative to this preferred arrangement the suction in the suction space could be omitted (i.e., the space being at atmospheric pressure) in which case the chambers in the band and the wheel would be supplied with air at slightly above atmospheric pressure to produce the required air stream. This will be explained more particularly with reference to the accompanying drawings.

This invention is also applicable to the transfer of a cigarette filler stream from a wheel to a band, for example as described in British Pat. No. 941,852.

Examples of machines according to this invention are shown in the accompanying drawings. In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of one cigarette making machine;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the transfer of the cigarette filler stream in accordance with the arrangement of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section on the line Ill-III in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged section on line IVIV of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of part of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but of a different machine;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 2, of a portion of the machine shown in FIG. 6.

In the machine shown in FIG. 1 tobacco is showered upwards by means of air through a channel 2 in order to build up a cigarette filler stream on the underneath surface of an air-pervious band 4. The tobacco is held on the band by suction applied through the band from a suction chamber 6. Some of the air flowing upwards through the channel 2 is produced by suction through the band from the chamber 6, but most of the air flow is produced by a supercharger fan (not shown) connected to a louvre port 8.

The band 4 moves round two pulleys 10 and 12 which are so arranged that the upper and lower runs of the band are inclined to the horizontal by about 15. As shown by the arrows, the filler stream carried by the band 4 moves round the pulley l0 and then along the upper run of the band 4 towards the pulley 12. On the way to the pulley 12, the filler stream is trimmed by a trimmer 14. A transfer wheel 16 then receives the filler stream and carries it by means of suction on to a continuous wrapper web 18 which is wrapped round the filler stream to form a continuous cigarette rod.

FIG. 2 shows in detail how the cigarette filler stream 20 is transferred from the band 4 to the transfer wheel 16 and is then deposited on the wrapper web 18. Up to the transfer point 22 (i.e., the point at which the band 4 and wheel 16 are closest together) the filler stream is carried on the band by means of suction applied through the band from the suction chamber 6, the level of suction being approximately 500 mm water gauge.

As shown in FIG. 4, the pulley 12 is formed by two wheels 12A and 12B which lie between the side walls 6A and 6B of the suction chamber and support the edges of the band 4. Between these wheels lies a fixed member 24 (see FIG. 2) which partly defines the boundary of the suction chamber 6 and determines that suction through the band is applied only to a point just short of the transfer point 22. After the transfer point 22 the filler stream 20 is carried by the wheel 16 by means of suction (for example also 500 mm w.g.) applied through the periphery of the wheel from a suction chamber 26, the boundary of the suction chamber 26 being defined by a fixed member 29. As shown in FIG. 3, the wheel 16 comprises a perforated peripheral part 16A carried on one side by a disc part 168; the member 29 lies within the wheel 16 as shown.

A cover 28 forms a suction space 30 which extends along the top run of the band, round the pulley 10, and

communicates with the top right corner of the channel 2. This arrangement is described in more detail copending in U.S. Pat. appln. Ser. No. 190,549 filed Oct. 19, 1971.

Slots 32 between the cover 28 and the rails 21 (FIG. 4) allow the required amount of air to flow into the suction space 30 at various positions along the space so as to maintain the required suction pressure which, in the region of the transfer wheel, is about to mm water gauge. Similarly a cover 34 forms a suction space 36 extending from the top left corner of the channel 2, as seen in FIG. 2, to the transfer region at the wheel 16. The suction pressure in the space 36 is similar to that in the space 30. A cover part 40 (see particularly FIG. 3) extends from the end of the cover 34 to define an extension of the suction space 36 which extends all the way to the web 18. A cover part 41 forms an extension to the cover 28 and extends round the top of the wheel, ending at a shoe 38 which assists in removing the filler stream from the wheel and placing it on the web 18.

The cover 40 has a series of holes 40A to allow the required inflow of air to ensure that the air enters the filler stream in a radial direction.

Immediately upstream of the transfer point 22 the quantity of air in the stream which is drawn through the filler stream 20 and band 4 is approximately the quantity of air in an air stream which is drawn outwards through the periphery of the wheel 16, as a result of the suction in the space 30, from a pocket 42 in the fixed member 29 which is at atmospheric pressure since it communicates with atmosphere through a port 42A. As a result, the air stream passing through the filler stream 20 approaches the tiller stream in a direction transverse to the filler stream; this will be explained more fully with reference toFIG. 5. Similarly, immediately after the transfer point, the air stream which is drawn through the tiller stream 20 and through the periphery of the wheel 16 is substantially equaled by an air stream which is drawn outwards of the pulley l2 and through the band, as a result of the suction in the space 36, from a pocket 44 in the member 24 which is at atmospheric pressure since it communicates with atmosphere through a port 44A.

If the covers 28, 34, 40 and 41 are omitted, so that the pressure on the outer surface of the filler stream is atmospheric, a similar effect can be obtained by feeding the pockets 42 and 44 with air at a pressure slightly above atmospheric pressure.

FIG. shows the effect of the air stream from the pockets 42 and 44. In the absence of the air streams from the pockets, the air flowing towards the filler stream would move approximately along the directions of the dotted flow lines. As shown in FIG. 5, these dotted flow lines approach the tobacco stream at a fairly acute angle, since the air cannot flow through the wheel 16 upstream of the transfer point, or through the band 4 downstream of the transfer point. The flow of air towards and into the filler stream at a somewhat acute angle tends to roll and disturb the filler stream. On the other hand, as a result of the air streams flowing from the pockets 42 and 44, the resultant air flow through the filler stream is transverse to the filler stream, as shown by the solid flow lines.

The peripheral part 16A of the transfer wheel 16 is, for example, approximately 1 mm thick and is formed with circumferentially extending rows of holes of for example 0.5 mm diameter, alternate rows being staggered so that the distance between the rows can be made less than the diameter of the holes.

In order to keep the holes in the wheel periphery clear, compressed air is supplied to a pocket 46 in the fixed member 29 (see FIG. 2), and air therefore blows out of the pocket, through the periphery of the wheel, and into a recess 48 in the cover part 41 from which the tobacco dust or other matter blown from the wheel is drawn away through a pipe by suction.

FIG. 6 shows a machine which is basically similar to that shown in FIG. 1, except that the channel 2 and the band assembly have been rotated through approximately For convenience, parts in FIGS. 6 and 7 which corresponds to similar parts in FIGS. 1 and 2 have been given the same reference numeral with the addition of a prime. As shown in FIG. 6, tobacco is showered horizontally through the channel 2 to build up a cigarette tiller stream on a band 4 which moves upwards past the channel and then downwards towards a transfer wheel 16' which carries the filler stream on to a continuous wrapper web 18'. FIG. 7 shows in detail how the filler stream is carried by the transfer wheel 16 on to the web 18' in basically the same manner as in FIG. 2. One difference should, however, be noted. The pocket 44' in the member 24' extends further away from the transfer point, and air passes into it from the atmosphere in the region of arrows 50, the cover 34 being perforated in the region of the arrows 50 for that purpose; in other words there is need to make separate provision for venting the pocket 44 to atmosphere. A similar modification may be made to the arrangement shown in FIG. 2.

As already mentioned, the present invention can be applied to other forms of cigarette making machines in which a cigarette filler stream is transferred from one conveyor to another. For example, the concept of the present invention of producing an air stream transversely to the filler stream can be applied to the transfer from the band to the wheel, either before the transfer point of after the transfer point, or both before and after the transfer point. The same may apply to the transfer from the wheel to the band, again either before or after the transfer point or both before and after the transfer point. In particular, with the arrangement described, as there is no suction space around the conveyors, compressed air at a pressure slightly above atmov spheric may be used to produce the required air flow in the region of the transfer point through whichever of the conveyors is not actually carrying the filler stream by suction.

I claim:

1. In a cigarette making machine, a filler stream conveying arrangement comprising a first air pervious conveyor, a second air pervious conveyor having a region which lies close to and is angularly disposed with respect to a region of said first conveyor, means for producing a reduced air pressure with respect to atmosphere on one side of said first conveyor to carry the tiller stream thereon by means of suction, means forming an air space adjacent one of said conveyors on the side thereof remote from the other conveyor, the one conveyor being arranged to move past said air space to allow air to pass through said one of said conveyors in the region where it lies close to, but is angularly disposed with respect to, the filler stream being carried by said first conveyor, so as to allow air to enter the filler stream after passing through said one conveyor and in a direction transverse thereto.

2. A cigarette making machine according to claim 1, further including means for producing a reduced air pressure on one side of said second conveyor so that it also carries the filler stream by means of suction, and in which each conveyor includes means to allow air to pass through it toward the other conveyor on a respective side of a transfer point in the region where it lies close to, but is angularly disposed with respect to, the filler stream being carried by the other conveyor,

3. A machine according to claim 2 in which one of the conveyors is a suction band and the other conveyor is a wheel, and further including means providing an air channel having an air flow therethrough and means for forming the filler stream on said one conveyor by showering tobacco through said channel by means of said air flow.

4. A machine according to claim 1 including means for producing arslight suction pressure between said first and second conveyors whereby the said airflow outwardly through said other conveyor is induced by the suction pressure, and including means for maintaining atmospheric pressure in said air space on the side of the said other conveyor remote from the first conveyor.

5. In a cigarette making machine, a filler stream forming and conveying arrangement comprising means for feeding particles of tobacco to form a cigarette filler stream, a first conveyor for conveying the filler stream by suction, and a second conveyor having a region which approaches a region of the first conveyor at an acute angle at which a transfer point for the filler stream is formed so that the filler stream may be transferred from the first conveyor to the second conveyor at the transfer point, means defining a space adjacent the second conveyor on the side thereof opposite said first conveyor and immediately upstream of the transfer point, and means for maintaining an air pressure in said space greater than the air pressure on the outer face of the filler stream which is remote from the first conveyor as it approaches the transfer point, whereby air streams pass from said space, through the second conveyor, and substantially transversely through the filler stream and through the first conveyor in the region immediately upstream of the transfer point.

6. In a cigarette making machine, a filler stream forming and conveying arrangement comprising means for feeding particles of tobacco to form a cigarette filler stream, a first conveyor for conveying the filler stream towards a transfer point, and a second conveyor capable of carrying the filler stream by suction having a region which receives the filler stream from the first con.- veyor at the transfer point and ,moves away from the first conveyor at an acute angle, means defining a space adjacent the first conveyor on the side thereof opposite said first conveyor and immediately downstream of the transfer point, and means for maintaining an air pressure in said space greater than the air pressure on the outer face of the filler stream which is remote from the first conveyor as it leaves the transfer point, whereby air streams pass from said space, through the first conveyor, and substantially transversely through the filler stream and through the second conveyor in the region immediately downstream of the transfer point.

7. A tobacco feeding apparatus comprising a first airpervious conveyor for carrying tobacco by means of suction; a second air-pervious conveyor for carrying tobacco by means of suction, the said second conveyor moving along a curved path which progressively approaches the first conveyor and then progressively moves away from the second conveyor; means defining a suction chamber within one of the conveyors whereby the said one conveyor carries tobacco with the aid of suction in a region adjacent to the closest point between the two conveyors said means including a portion of the said one conveyor which extends from adjacent the said closest point and progressively diverges from the opposed surface of the other conveyor; means contained in the said other conveyor for defining a chamber extending from adjacent the said closest point and along a portion of the said other conveyor which is opposed to and progressively diverges from the said one conveyor; and means for producing an air pressure in the said chamber which is greater than the ambient air pressure outside the conveyors, whereby air streams flow along paths extending outwards from the said chamber, through the said other conveyor, and then substantially transversely through the tobacco and into the said one conveyor.

8. A tobacco feeding apparatus comprising a first airpervious conveyor arranged to move along a path curved about a first axis; a second air-pervious conveyor arranged to move along a path curved about a second axis parallel to the first axis, whereby the paths of two conveyors are closest adjacent a point on a straight line extending between the two axes, and diverge away from the said closest point; means defining a suction chamber within the first conveyor whereby the first conveyor carries tobacco on its outer surface with the aid of suction in a region adjacent the said closest point between the conveyors said means including a portion of the first conveyor which extends from adjacent the said closest point and progressively diverges from the opposed surface of the second conveyor; means contained in the second conveyor for defining a chamber extending from adjacent the said closest point and along a portion of the second conveyor which is opposed to and progressively diverges from the first conveyor; and means for producing an air pressure in the said chamber which is greater than the ambient air pressure outside the conveyors, whereby air streams flow along paths extending outwards from the said chamber, through the second conveyor, and then substantially transversely through the tobacco and into the first conveyor. 

1. In a cigarette making machine, a filler stream conveying arrangement comprising a first air pervious conveyor, a second air pervious conveyor having a region which lies close to and is angularly disposed with respect to a region of said first conveyor, means for producing a reduced air pressure with respect to atmosphere on one side of said first conveyor to carry the filler stream thereon by means of suction, means forming an air space adjacent one of said conveyors on the side thereof remote from the other conveyor, the one conveyor being arranged to move past said air space to allow air to pass through said one of said conveyors in the region where it lies close to, but is angularly disposed with respect to, the filler stream being carried by said first conveyor, so as to allow air to enter the filler stream after passing through said one conveyor and in a direction transverse thereto.
 2. A cigarette making machine according to claim 1, further including means for producing a reduced air pressure on one side of said second conveyor so that it also carries the filler stream by means of suction, and in which each conveyor includes means to allow air to pass through it toward the other conveyor on a respective side of a transfer point in the region where it lies close to, but is angularly disposed with respect to, the filler stream being carried by the other conveyor.
 3. A machine according to claim 2 in which one of the conveyors is a suction band and the other conveyor is a wheel, and further including means providing an air channel having an air flow therethrough and means for forming the filler stream on said one conveyor by showering tobacco through said channel by means of said air flow.
 4. A machine according to claim 1 including means for producing a slight suction pressure between said first and second conveyors whereby the said airflow outwardly through said other conveyor is induced by the suction pressure, and including means for maintaining atmospheric pressure in said air space on the side of the said other conveyor remote from the first cOnveyor.
 5. In a cigarette making machine, a filler stream forming and conveying arrangement comprising means for feeding particles of tobacco to form a cigarette filler stream, a first conveyor for conveying the filler stream by suction, and a second conveyor having a region which approaches a region of the first conveyor at an acute angle at which a transfer point for the filler stream is formed so that the filler stream may be transferred from the first conveyor to the second conveyor at the transfer point, means defining a space adjacent the second conveyor on the side thereof opposite said first conveyor and immediately upstream of the transfer point, and means for maintaining an air pressure in said space greater than the air pressure on the outer face of the filler stream which is remote from the first conveyor as it approaches the transfer point, whereby air streams pass from said space, through the second conveyor, and substantially transversely through the filler stream and through the first conveyor in the region immediately upstream of the transfer point.
 6. In a cigarette making machine, a filler stream forming and conveying arrangement comprising means for feeding particles of tobacco to form a cigarette filler stream, a first conveyor for conveying the filler stream towards a transfer point, and a second conveyor capable of carrying the filler stream by suction having a region which receives the filler stream from the first conveyor at the transfer point and moves away from the first conveyor at an acute angle, means defining a space adjacent the first conveyor on the side thereof opposite said first conveyor and immediately downstream of the transfer point, and means for maintaining an air pressure in said space greater than the air pressure on the outer face of the filler stream which is remote from the first conveyor as it leaves the transfer point, whereby air streams pass from said space, through the first conveyor, and substantially transversely through the filler stream and through the second conveyor in the region immediately downstream of the transfer point.
 7. A tobacco feeding apparatus comprising a first air-pervious conveyor for carrying tobacco by means of suction; a second air-pervious conveyor for carrying tobacco by means of suction, the said second conveyor moving along a curved path which progressively approaches the first conveyor and then progressively moves away from the second conveyor; means defining a suction chamber within one of the conveyors whereby the said one conveyor carries tobacco with the aid of suction in a region adjacent to the closest point between the two conveyors said means including a portion of the said one conveyor which extends from adjacent the said closest point and progressively diverges from the opposed surface of the other conveyor; means contained in the said other conveyor for defining a chamber extending from adjacent the said closest point and along a portion of the said other conveyor which is opposed to and progressively diverges from the said one conveyor; and means for producing an air pressure in the said chamber which is greater than the ambient air pressure outside the conveyors, whereby air streams flow along paths extending outwards from the said chamber, through the said other conveyor, and then substantially transversely through the tobacco and into the said one conveyor.
 8. A tobacco feeding apparatus comprising a first air-pervious conveyor arranged to move along a path curved about a first axis; a second air-pervious conveyor arranged to move along a path curved about a second axis parallel to the first axis, whereby the paths of two conveyors are closest adjacent a point on a straight line extending between the two axes, and diverge away from the said closest point; means defining a suction chamber within the first conveyor whereby the first conveyor carries tobacco on its outer surface with the aid of suction in a region adjacent the said closest point between the conveyors said means including a portion of the first conveyor which extends from adjacent the said closest point and progressively diverges from the opposed surface of the second conveyor; means contained in the second conveyor for defining a chamber extending from adjacent the said closest point and along a portion of the second conveyor which is opposed to and progressively diverges from the first conveyor; and means for producing an air pressure in the said chamber which is greater than the ambient air pressure outside the conveyors, whereby air streams flow along paths extending outwards from the said chamber, through the second conveyor, and then substantially transversely through the tobacco and into the first conveyor. 